RAJAN BIJLANI'S CHANDIGARH COLLECTION AT NOMAD ST. MORITZ

London-based collector and curator Rajan Bijlani has chosen NOMAD St. Moritz for the launch of a limited-edition collection of rare, outstanding pieces designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret between 1954 and 1966 for the Indian city of Chandigarh. As a gesture of respect for Indian tradition, which regards cows as sacred, Bijlani selected our finest fabrics – Cashmere Sherpas, Cashmere Raw, Alpaca, Baby Camelhair – to replace the furniture’s previously cowhide upholstery and cushions. This gesture also pays homage to his northern Indian origins; and the choice of Cashmere subtly references the years the designers spent in Chandigarh, which is within sight of the Himalayas. The pristine softness of the fabrics contrasts yet complements the collection’s precise geometrical lines, and effects an elegant, tactile finish. Fabrics, carpets and wallcoverings by Loro Piana Interiors have also been used to decorate the space Bijlani has chosen for the launch, in the former Hotel Eden in the centre of St. Moritz – this year's venue for the prestigious art and design event, which runs from 22 to 25 February. This choice, too, has resonance, as a tribute to Le Corbusier and Jeanneret’s Swiss origins.